Welcome to Eckley Miners’ Village

More than 160 Years of Anthracite Mining History

An original Council Ridge Colliery breaker. Eckley, PA.

A village frozen in time– Founded in 1854, Eckley is an example of a planned nineteenth century coal mining town.

It is a community, or coal “patch town,” which provided mining families with the basic necessities such as housing and medical care, as well as basic amenities like a store, a school and churches. Companies often designed and constructed industrial communities to house their employees in close proximity to the collieries, or mining operations, for which they worked. Such mining towns were built to attract other mining families to live and work among the coal fields of northeastern Pennsylvania. While the company greatly influenced the lives of its village residents, and each family member faced challenges and difficulties every day. The way in which they faced these challenges is the history of the region that is studied, preserved and interpreted.

Eckley coal miners, 1942.

Coal is why they came.

Many immigrants who came to America hoped to work in the mines just long enough to save money, buy land and return to the farming lifestyle they had known in Europe. However, once they became part of the company-owned system, very few were able to escape the years of poverty and hardship that faced them. Despite these challenges, many immigrants were able to achieve marginal improvements, not only to their lives, but to the lives of descendants.

The story of the Eckley village and the people who lived and worked in it is one of dynamic economic and social change. Beginning more than 160 years ago, it exemplified the clamor and conflict of the anthracite coal industry, which almost singlehandedly fueled the early stages of America’s industrial revolution.

2013 Fall Foliage Contest photo, Joann Stewart.

Remembering the time when coal was king.

Today, Eckley is a museum representing the lives of the immigrant anthracite coal miners and their families. Come for a visit and experience life in northeastern Pennsylvania coal patch towns during the time when coal was an essential industrial fuel. Visit the Visitors’ Center exhibitions, take a guided tour, plan a trip around a living history event, and learn more about housing and daily lives within the village.

Upcoming Events

To commemorate the founding of Pennsylvania by William Penn, PHMC sites are hosting free events across Pennsylvania. Eckley Miners’ Village Museum is pleased to show the WVIA production “Up from the Mines” for Charter Day 2015. This regional coal mining film is a rare, feature-length, director’s cut version of more …

Saturday and Sunday, June 27 and 28 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days Celebrate the coal mining heritage of Northeastern Pennsylvania through ethnic music, performances by the Eckley Players, vendors, community groups and food! Interested vendors selling handmade crafts, demonstrating special skills or with coal mining displays are asked …

Saturday, July 25 – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 26 – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Experience an overview of the WWII era in a coal mining town setting- Visit Allied and Axis forces as they take up camp at Eckley for the weekend, see military vehicles and …

July 25th at 6 p.m. Grab your dancing shoes, and come out to the Freeland Public Park Pavilion for Eckley’s 4th Annual 1940s Swing Dance! Enjoy music by the Hazleton Philharmonic Big Band Sound – it’s sure to be a swingin’ time! All veterans in attendance will be recognized. Concessions …

August 15 and 16 Experience America’s great Civil War at Eckley. Visit Union and Confederate encampments, meet famous historical figures, visit sutlers, see battles and listen to period music while enjoying plenty of food! More information will be available closer to the event. New interested Civil War reenactors and period …